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Jay-Z greets the crowd. Marcel Dzama’s homage to Poussin’s The Adoration of the Golden Calf can be seen in the background.

Photographed by Mimi Ritzen Crawford

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The scene outside Pace Gallery’s 510 West Twenty-fifth Street location, where the music video was being filmed.

Photographed by Mimi Ritzen Crawford

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Dustin Yellin and Jay-Z after Yellin’s break-dance.

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Judd Apatow, with book, pretending to take a call—a movie producer has better things to do.

Photographed by Mimi Ritzen Crawford

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Marina Abramović and Jay-Z holding hands after their performance. The crowd was ecstatic.

Photographed by Mimi Ritzen Crawford

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Jenna Lyons and Courtney Crangi snapping some photos. Lyons later took a selfie with Laurie Simmons.

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Toward the end of every performance, Jay-Z invited the entire crowd to cross the rope, and join him in the ring.

Photographed by Mimi Ritzen Crawford

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“I just want a Picasso, in my casa / No, my castle.” So goes the opening lyric of Jay-Z’s “Picasso Baby,” the video that was shot yesterday at Pace gallery. One after another, people entered the ring to sit face-to-face with the rapper, as he sang over an instrumental track for upwards of six hours. There were no instructions, no introductions, and thus guests began to improvise. Dustin Yellin break-danced. Kit Keenan, the fourteen-year-old daughter of Cynthia Rowley (who took off time from her internship that afternoon), sat between her parents, legs and arms crossed, giving Jay-Z sass. Adam Driver stoically matched Hova’s gaze. Meanwhile, Judd Apatow brought a book, and pretended to take a call, until George Drakoulias entered the ring and, with Jay-Z, took a selfie with Apatow’s iPhone. At one point, Jay-Z lent his medallion necklace to a cherubic towheaded boy, who stood blinking in shock at the rapper’s fatherly attention. Marilyn Minter, on the other hand, got groovy, and even reached out and kissed that same medallion. Jemima Kirke ran behind Jay-Z and bear-hugged him. Brooklyn dancer Storyboard P moved across the room like an animated gif. But it was Marina Abramović for whom we were waiting. The concept of the video was inspired by her 2010 MoMA retrospective “The Artist is Present.” When she arrived, the room fell silent and the crowd parted. She entered the ring, walked out of her shoes, removed her belt, and headed straight for the stage. As Jay-Z recited his lyrics, she floated her arms up, until she finally touched her forehead with his. The two stayed locked, brow to brow, until the song was over.